Daniel Paul "Danny" Butterfield (born 21 November 1979 in Boston) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder. He was educated at Boston Grammar School, 1991-1996.

Danny plays for Southampton F.C. He previously played for Grimsby Town, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic. He is now primarily utilised as a right back but started his carrer as a central midfielder for Crystal Palace and has played on the right of midfield as well.

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Career

Grimsby Town

Butterfield was snapped up by Grimsby Town as a youngster, and was promoted to the club's first team in the 1996–1997 season. He was primarily used as a right back and made his first team debut in a 0–0 draw against York City on 9 September 1997. He went on to make eleven appearances in the 1997–1998 season, and scored his first senior goal in the club's 1–0 Football League Trophy victory over Hull City that season.

Butterfield became increasingly involved in club affairs, and featured often on the right side of defence and as a make-shift centre half. He was part of the Grimsby team that defeated Liverpool in the League Cup in 2001–02. He cleared an Emile Heskey header off the line.

At the end of the 2001–02 season, Butterfield moved to Crystal Palace. In his five years at Grimsby Town from 1997 to 2002, he featured 124 times in the League, scoring 3 times.

Crystal Palace

Butterfield quickly became a favourite of the Crystal Palace crowd. He played regularly for the next two seasons, playing in the 2004 Football League First Division play-off Final that resulted in Palace's promotion to the Premier League.

The form of Emmerson Boyce and long term injuries restricted his appearances for the next two seasons, before re-establishing himself at right-back. Mid-way through the 2008–09 season he was sent on loan to Charlton Athletic, but he managed to regain his place in the Palace line-up the following season.

Butterfield started the 2009-10 Football League Championship season as the main right back. Financial problems at Palace led to the club being put into administration, and Butterfield was converted to a make-shift striker. He scored a hat-trick in the space of 6 minutes and 48 seconds during a 2009–10 FA Cup fourth round replay 3–1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers; he scored with his left foot, right foot and his head which is described as the 'perfect hat-trick'. This is the club's fastest ever hat-trick.

Southampton

On 16 July 2010, Butterfield joined Southampton on a one-year deal and joined the squad in Interlaken ready for the game against FC Sochaux. On 7 August 2010, he made his debut for Southampton in a 1–0 loss against Plymouth. Since making his debut, Butterfield established himself in the starting eleven in the left back position.

In his first season, Butterfield made 38 appearance (34 League, 2 League Cup and 2 FA Cup) for Southampton supplying three assists. After the end of 2010–11 season, Butterfield signed another 12 months deal. He told Saints' official website "My contract has now flowed into next season because of the amount of games I played and I'm certainly happy to be on board at a club that is going in the right direction, I think I've played a reasonable amount of games and I think I've played reasonably well all season. For us to get promoted is a massive thing for the club and for me to be a part of it, I'm really happy with that."

In his second season, Butterfield began to be used more sparingly after injury prevented him from training and he struggled to force his way back into the Southampton starting eleven. On 9 August 2011, Butterfield played 120 minutes in a match against Torquay United in a League Cup tie which Southampton won 4–1. His first league match of the 2011–12 season came on 29 October 2011 when he played 90 minutes against Middlesbrough and made an assist for Guly to score the first goal in the game after Butterfield made a cross to allow Guly to score a header. The match ended 3–0 for Southampton. Despite his fitness and injury preventing him from playing, on 17 February 2012, Butterfield signed a one-year contract extension with the club, keeping him at Southampton until June 2013.

Carlisle United

On 4 June 2013, he was released by Southampton. In late July, Butterfield joined newly promoted Championship side Bournemouth on trial. On 23 August 2013 Butterfield signed on non-contract terms with League One side Carlisle United. He made his debut the same day, in a 1–1 draw at Colchester United. After playing only twice for United he was released by mutual consent on 2 September 2013.